Bull Lee was there talking to some young men about junk. Neal was reading a paperback of Anne of Green Gables with one hand and the other arm around a young woman with a beret and an eye patch. During Dark Star coasters made of red white and blue light shot out of Jerry's guitar. Back then we didn't call this a concert. it was an experience or a happening.

tapers section app on Android let's you listen to & download ANY show on the Archives... Get it & stop complaining about not being able to download!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.taperssection.taperssectionapp />Or on Apple Appstore
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tapers-section/id1212682275

Dark Star > St. Stephen from Live/Dead. I notice that Bobby is way higher in the mix here than he is in the Live/Dead mix, and I'm loving it. One of my favorite pre-'70 shows

I was lucky enough to go to both the Thursday (2/27) and Sunday (3/2) shows that weekend. Pentangle was an excellent band (Bert Jansch/John Renborn/et al) as well but the Dead played the best I ever saw them that weekend. Dark Star and St.Stephen/"William Tell" (not Rossini's version...ha ha) made the cut for Live/Dead...no wonder...flawless thematic motifs with counterpoint lines and rhythms...they even sang close to the proper harmonies...as for The Other One 'suite', I still prefer the 12/27 Avalon recording...which was broadcast (in mono) that night...I went on the previous Thursday...Aum was on that bill...12/27 seems to have not turned up..strange, for that also had a cookin' Lovelight...too bad I didn't go Saturday the 26th...The Eleven/Lovelight Live/Dead LP night...loved this band until '71...never liked them at all after that time...I play jazz guitar now but was lured into buying my first ax from watching these guys back then..especially Weir...whose fluid right hand did nice rhythmic fills...

You can listen to this recording online at
http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Fillmore+West+1969+The+Complete+Recordings/5900177

Look up "archive" in the dictionary. It will tell you that this site is a record of what went down. OK, for one reason or another, these Fillmore '69 shows are no longer listenable (at least from here). However, at least this site tells you what was played and, from the reviews by people who accesses the shows before they were taken down, provides info on the performances. Archive - get it?
If you are interested in actually hearing the shows (and haven't got the official release):
i) find out how to 'torrent' stuff (if you don't know already), &
ii) locate the shows on E-tree and torrent them from there.
Happy hunting.
5 stars ...............

if you can't download and listen to the music from this site why the hell is it listed?
i know the guy who answered yesterday pointed out that the tape is available on disc and blah blah blah.
i thank him for that, but i also noticed that myself. it just doesn't answer the question why it's listed here if you can't access it here.
and not only is it listed once, but three times, and in each instant you can't access it.
that to me is crazy and makes absolutely no sense.
again, no rating for the same reason as yesterday. and yes the concert itself may be a five-pointer, as i'm sure it is, but the access from this site is zero.
peace.

Much the same as how life’s beauty can only be seen from afar, the terpsichorean ways of ’69 bring forth such graceful steps that enact a transcendent dance. Merely every concert has expressed some sentiment of this grace- but the perhaps much-too-hyped Fillmore West run descends into the sentimental groove with auspicious waves of abounding music… let is caress you, each glistening golden wave, for this music is a manifestation of one’s true soul- in the way it glides beyond them, and is lost in the scene before it. Hold the apple closer, then see the tree from which it grew. We are all the same. The movements of 7 are but the dance of one

Look, Mr. Islam sucks, I can't help it if I was born when I was and didn't start seeing the band until the early 80s. I guess in your view that makes me a d-bag through no fault of my own -- why insult my parents? Get off your sanctimonious high horse and get some therapy. You also seem to have a problem that the band started to become commercially successful. Do you think anybody was playing in a band back then just so they could be poor? Everybody saw the commercial success of the Beatles and said, "hey, we can do that too." The Dead are no different. They deserve to make money off their music. So, if you like the Grateful Dead, enjoy the plenty of free music on the Archive but also support the commercial releases of your choice.

i'd only put this one a shade above 3/2/69 for two reasons: i think its more well played and tighter, but more importantly because of the fact that it contains THE dark star. As has been stated many times, the Live/Dead DS contained here is basically the measuring stick of all others. for many people, it was their first window into the improvisational possibilities of the greatest band on earth.
but this show is so great for many other reasons:
nice versions of Doin' that Rag and Mountains of the moon (the end of which is heard as the beginning of Dark Star on that classic live/dead recording),
excellent versions of St. Stephen (the most well played Steve of the 4)the Eleven, and Lovelight.
Can't forget as well a TIFTOO suite that is only narrowly eclipsed by 3/2. I'd only put that one above it b/c of its insanely epic cryptical reprise which makes a case for best ever; this version, however, has a far better TOO section. all the Other Ones of this Fillmore run, though, are absolutely outstanding.
And all four shows shine very brightly in a year that is one of the band's very best...

Just listened to this complete mindblower last night and this morning. All I can say is WOW! The sound on this Dark Star is way better than it is on Live/Dead. There's a much more open sound. On Live/Dead, it sounds like they're playing in a tunnel. That's It For The Other One is also great.

any one have the bonus disk from the fillmore box set? if so i can get you any soundboard from this site. reall any one. e-mail me at

A tear falls from his eye as he completes his search for a magical audio buzz to complete a mellow Saturday morning and notes that it, as many others of its kind, has become esoteric.
It has been pulled back away from the new, modern crowd who notice not the struggles of and for freedom of expression fought by gallant youths of yesterday. Far from the youth of today with crackerbox heros thrust at them by financially over-saturated media gods with dialysis machines beyond the curtains of perception, these dialysis machines are plugged into today's youth and suck out curiosity, individualism and love...to bleed back into them the syrup created to quell the sparks of personal expression. The syrup of desire; desire to be 'normal'. This syrup is the spirit of scoff, esp at weirdness but scoff is really what is distilled from judgement upon others when they see others stretch beyond conformity. The machine doesn't fit those whose plugs are not 115 volts like the rest of us so the syrup the media pumps into today's blank pages of youth must see that they all fit into the same outlets.
He gives up on the search. Allows modern struggles to overpower the memories of yesterday and hopes to remember the notion of music that can make one sob for joy, hopes to remember when he begins his winter season, the season of watching and waiting, wondering what inspiration may do for him in that season of withering...winter.

I've been returning again & again to this show for many years; it's unquestionably one of my favorites from the FIRESTORM year of 1969.
The 1st set, in particular, is just just incredible incredible.....I LOVE the stoned-off-their-asses banter:
Bobby introducing the drummers as "Thumpy & Drumstick";
Garcia's comments about the "truly weird" state of things on-stage;
The unique "hammer" launching pad of "Doin' That Rag"
and Weir's promise for the 2nd set, to "bring out the monkey.....or 500 of them"......
The "Cryptical > O1 > Cryptical" suite SMOKES!! "The Eleven" is BLAZING!!
For all serious Heads, this show is a MUST-HAVE!!!! Nice quality recording, to boot....!!

Superb Dark Star. Best version hands down. Same with the St. Stephen. Wow I am just speechless right now.

This guy is a Parasite, Lowest of the low! I thought I made an easy trade with 5877DeadHead. Instead He received my 3 Dead Shows (10 CDs) and for my trouble I received ignored emails. Boy I have just insulted Parasites, Doh!! Thanks Chris ! That was a lot of Fun!!

Great string of shows. This is probably the first Dark Star you ever heard. Gives me goose bumps every time. If anyone needs the Fillmore West box set I've got it to trade. BushofArabia87@aol.com

Why can't i seem to download or stream this song i've heard it on bootleg tape before and it was amazing but i lost it... anyone know?

i was lucky enough to order the limited Fillmore run just released and after listening thoroughly to all 4 shows I come back to the same conclusion I've always had. That this version of Dark Star, which appears on Live Dead, coming out of a beautiful transition from Mountains on the Moon is THE quintesssential dark star. Over the years this song morphed into a jazzy exploration piece and later into a mellow wandering shell of itself, but in 1969 almost all versions were fiery, psychadelic and purposeful. In this era Dark Star was an event all unto itself.
In this version you have Jerry ripping off soaring leads then mixing them up with mind bending psychadelic blasts. All the while Phil is throwing down the thunder which must be rattling the insides of everyone present. Even the drum work and organ is stellar...though the organ interplay with Jerry is even better on 3/2/69
While this is my least favorite overall show of the 4, this Dark Star stands out among the four played, followed imho by the version on 3/2/69 and then 3/1/69, with the 2/28 version being more contemplative and restrained but still satisfying.

What the hell is wrong with the downloads? It keeps saying I am "forbidden" and all this other BS. Wish I could download this stuff, this is probably the single greatest dark star EVER.

Hope the title for review was helpful.
One of the main parts of shows used for "Live Dead" (allegedly 1/26/69 is the other half).
I finally get to hear The 11 from the same point where Dark Star -> St. ends, everything I hoped it would be.
This is like the edgiest stuff they ever did. Material like this on a scale of 1 - 10 would actually be like 11.3, but if we have to fit it into serious Olympics style metrics, then let's give it a rousing 9.995. Yowza, but the Russian judge gave it a 10.000!

The sequence:
"Beyond the Pale..." >
Cryptical Envelopment >
Drums >
That's it for the Other One >
Cryptical Envelopment
is the opening track to Disc2 of SO MANY ROADS.
Seeing as how that track can make me feel like I'm back in Dead Nirvana Spaceland, I'd say this is worth a download!
The five stars are indicative of that track. Once I grab this download I'll try to leave a review of the entire show.
UPDATE 12/18/04...What can I say? Of course the entire show is incredible. 1969 has so much to offer but do not skip this show!

dgrb, the versions of lovelight and the eleven from live/dead are from Jan. 26, 1969 at the Avalon Ballroom in San Fran. In regards to the show, I think this is one of the Dead's best shows from '69, along with the New Years Eve show from '69...that's a great one.

The versions of "The Eleven" and "Lovelight" from the album "Live/Dead" are from 1-26-69, Avalon Ballroom, San Fran, CA............that show is on this Archive......This show and that are both very fine and I recommend them both wholeheartedly!
PS
Sorry to be repetitive..I hadn't notice someone already gave out the date for the other show....JUST GET THEM BOTH!!

The Lovelight and Eleven from Live/Dead are from 01-26-69 at Avalon Ballroom. Great versions here though. Best Dark Star I know.

the eleven and lovelight from live dead come from 1-26-69 (the official release is mixed somewhat differently, and has a few edits. you'll here it though. listen for the play an interaction between the boys during the eleven and wait for jerry's incredible solo in lovelight! a dead give away.)

I'll agree with most of what xonix says, *however* only Dark Star and St. Stephen from this show appear on Live/Dead, the Eleven and Lovelight are from elsewhere and I've yet to discover the precise show (I have the entire Feb/March FIllmore run and it's not from any of those)
great show though

This Show is strikingly similiar to "Grateful Dead - Fillmore East 2-11-69". I lost the CD so I'm not sure if it is the same date or not but the beyond the pale banter is also present on this copy. None the less, a damn good show.

The Dark Star > St Stephen > William Tell > The Eleven (and also Lovelight?) appears on the awesome Live/Dead. This Dark Star truely is a cosmic voyage. You are sent spinning through Saturn's rings and past the outer plants; dodging meteors and hitching rides on comets till you are left floating in the endless void... from where you must eventually begin the return...
It is mind blowing. Sit down in a comfy armchair, have a smoke, a glass of wine, turn the lights down, close your eyes, whatever you do to relax, and let the music carry you along to where ever it wants to take you.
And the rest of this show is awesome too. St Stephen is also the best ever i've heard. All the others are also great if not outstanding. And the Mountains of The Moon preceding Dark Star is a great idea as usually, it really gets you in the right mood for the voyage that Dark Star is.
5/5 stars for one of the greatest Dead shows of all eras. And as for the psychedelic era to which this show belongs it is #1 in my humble opinion.
The Dark Star is one of those things which is so close to perfection it even has the power to make you sad... because while you love and enjoy it so much you realise that it must surely end, and then there is nothing else on the same level like it to continue where it left off. I don't know about you but I've also had that feeling which my favourite books and films.

one of my favorite 69 shows. check out the transition from mountains of the moon to darkstar. definetly gotta have this one.